The present disclosure is directed to cross-flow membrane emulsification devices. The devices disclosed herein can have a continuous phase plate, a dispersed phase plate, an outlet, and a chamber. The chamber is located between the continuous phase plate and the dispersed phase plate and is bisected by a membrane with a plurality of pores. The chamber can include at least one channel on a first side of the membrane formed from at least one groove in the continuous phase plate and the membrane. In addition, the chamber can also include a cavity on a second side of the membrane formed in the dispersed phase plate.

Polymer hydrogels and methods for selective retrieval of microbial targets from microwells and other cell culture devices. The methods use semi-permeable, photodegradable hydrogel membranes that permit exchange of nutrients and waste products but seals motile bacteria and other microbes within microwells. Light exposure can be used to degrade the hydrogel membrane in a targeted manner and release the microbes from targeted microwells for further study.

The present invention relates to ultrafiltration. In particular, the present invention provides nanoporous membranes having pores for generating in vitro and in vivo ultrafiltrate, devices and bioartificial organs utilizing such nanoporous membranes, and related methods (e.g., diagnostic methods, research methods, drug screening). The present invention further provides nanoporous membranes configured to avoid protein fouling with, for example, a polyethylene glycol surface coating.

A honeycomb structure comprising: a honeycomb structure body that includes a plurality of porous partition walls and intersection parts, and a catalyst layer, wherein the porosity of the partition wall is 20 to 70%, the average pore diameter of the pores in the partition wall is 1 to 60 m, a plurality of the partition walls includes a notched partition wall having a recessed part in which at least one end is notched, the ratio of the notched partition wall in the partition walls is 1 to 100%, the recessed part of the notched partition wall has a depth of 10 to 200% of the standard length, and the recessed part of the notched partition wall is a part having a width of 33 to 100% of the standard width.

A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A porous membrane is attached to a substrate. Calcite is deposited in porous openings in the porous membrane attached to the substrate. A width of openings in the deposited calcite is in a range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm). The porous membrane is etched to remove the porous membrane from the substrate to form a fabricated calcite channel structure. Each channel has a width in the range from 50 to 100 nm.

Provided are monolithic structures comprising one or more suspended, nanoporous membranes that are in contact with one or more fluidic cavities, methods of making same, and exemplary uses of same. The monolithic structures can be formed using a transmembrane etch. The monolithic structures can be used, as examples, as filters and filtration modules in microfluidic devices, dialysis devices, and concentration devices in laboratory, industrial, and medical processes.

A method for filtering gas includes providing a gas filtration structure, and the gas filtration structure includes a porous support and a first gas filtration film pair on the porous support, wherein the first gas filtration film pair includes a first hydrogen permeation layer and a first calcinated layered double hydroxide (c-LDH) layer, and the first hydrogen permeation layer is disposed between the porous support and the first c-LDH layer. The method also provides a hydrogen-containing mixture gas over the first gas filtration film pair, and collects hydrogen under the porous support.

A method of concentrating a lithium-containing aqueous solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a water-permeable structure having an inner surface and outer surface, wherein at least said outer surface is coated with a water-permeable hydrophilic polymer having a thermal stability of at least 100 C.; and (ii) flowing a lithium-containing aqueous feed solution having an initial concentration of lithium over said inner surface while said outer surface is in contact with an aqueous draw solution containing a higher overall ion concentration than said lithium-containing aqueous feed solution, to result in forward osmosis of water from said lithium-containing aqueous feed solution to said aqueous draw solution, and wherein said forward osmosis results in a lithium-containing aqueous product solution having an increased concentration of lithium relative to the initial concentration of lithium in the lithium-containing aqueous feed solution.

In at least one embodiment, a separator is provided with a fibrous mat for retaining the active material on an electrode of a lead-acid battery. New or improved mats, separators, batteries, methods, and/or systems are also disclosed, shown, claimed, and/or provided. For example, in at least one possibly preferred embodiment, a composite separator is provided with a fibrous mat for retaining the active material on an electrode of a lead-acid battery. In at least one possibly particularly preferred embodiment, a PE membrane separator is provided with at least one fibrous mat for retaining the active material on an electrode of a lead-acid battery. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, aspects and/or objects, the present invention, application, or disclosure may provide solutions, new products, improved products, new methods, and/or improved methods, and/or may address issues, needs, and/or problems of PAM shedding. NAM shedding, electrode distortion, active material shedding, active material loss, and/or physical separation, electrode effectiveness, battery performance, battery life, and/or cycle life, and/or may provide new battery separators, new battery technology, and/or new battery methods and/or systems that address the challenges arising from current lead acid batteries or battery systems, especially new battery separators, new battery technology, and/or new battery methods and/or systems adapted to prevent or impede the shedding of active material from the electrodes, preferably or particularly in enhanced flooded lead acid batteries, PSoC batteries, ISS batteries, ESS batteries, and/or the like.

A filter including a porous support defining one or more channels therethrough, and a porous ceramic membrane layer on a surface of the porous support defining at least one of the one or more channels. The ceramic membrane layer includes an inorganic ceramic composition having the formula SiM.sup.p.sub.xpC.sub.yN.sub.zO.sub.mH.sub.n, where each M.sup.p present is independently selected from a p-block element or a d-block element; p is an integer from 1 to 5; for each M.sup.p present, xp is independently from about 0 to about 60; y is from about 0 to about 60; z is from about 0 to about 60; m is from about 0 to about 40; and n is zero or nonzero. At least one of y and z is nonzero when p is zero, and p is nonzero when y and z are both zero.